National Executive Meeting: of WSO Canada was held in Dartmouth Nova Scotia on March 9 & 101991. A very successful Inter-Community Banquet was also held. It was well attended by the Sikhs in the community as well as representation from 40 different ethnic organisations. Rosalie Stoddard the lady who first welcomed 174 Sikh Refugees three years ago was present as well as Lee Cohen the lawyer who helped us look after them when the rest of the country failed to be as welcoming. Our V.P. for Atlantic Region Narinderpal Singh was an excellent host. We owe the success of the meeting and banquet to his hard work.
Citizens’ Forum: The World Sikh Organization has written a 10 page brief to the Citizens’ Forum on Canada’s Future. (Available upon request) we have also arranged for volunteer moderators to initiate discussion groups across the country We feel that it is very important for all Canadians to get involved in these discussions and encourage each and every one of you to do so. It is not every day that we are asked for our opinion. Normally we have to work very hard for an opportunity to be heard. In a democracy people get the government that they deserve. Canada would not be in such a mess if it were not for our past apathy. Let us get involved and participate fully in the process. After all the future we are talking about is our future and that of our children.
Reyat’s Situation: Inderjit Singh Reyat’s trial is still in progress in Vancouver. The prosecutor has built quite a case against him. We have great faith in the due process of the law and thank God that this trial is in Canada not in India.
Government Meddling? Last July it came to our attention that the Department of Multiculturalism is looking to start a new organization that they propose to call the “Sikh Congress”. The Macauliffe Institute in Toronto has been given 75 thousand dollars to do a feasibility study to see how best to implement this “great idea” We have written Gerry Weiner on several occasions asking why he felt it was necessary to do this we have the World Sikh Organization working for Sikhs. We have also countless other small organizations and associations. We do not need the Tory Government to start a new organization telling Sikhs how they should behave. It is our opinion that this is unwarranted meddling in our affairs. It is a ploy to divide and conquers. It may be a scary thought but could it be that our minister of Foreign Affairs is taking lessons from the Indian government? The latest we have heard from the “Sikh Congress” is a 65 page report on completion of Phase 1. It would appear that they will certainly accomplish what they have set out to do. We still have serious reservations on the whole matter. Included with this newsletter is a letter we have drafted to the Minister of Multiculturalism. We ask that each of you sign and mail it. No Postage is necessary. Make sure you include your full address or your protest will not be taken seriously. This is your opportunity to make your views known.
Letter Writing Campaign: In our last newsletter we included a letter to all the Sarpanches of Punjab with are quest that you mail it to as many sarpanches as you possibly can but especially to your own village. Ottawa Chapter alone has sent 1200 letters. Verbally we have been told that others across the country have also been doing likewise. The time is now for you to send your reports to WSO Head Office. We have had some indication from people travelling abroad that yes indeed our letters are getting through. Since then two more letters have been drafted and sent. A letter to the Presidents of all the Bar Associations and another to all the Police Chiefs in Punjab.
Punjab Human Rights Organization has sent us three new publications of theirs 1.Ram Janam Bhoomi A Myth 2 Sikh Villages Ransacked 3.Why I Took To A.K.47 Please contact Head Office if you would like us to send you a copy. Human Rights violations continue in Punjab. Nothing is getting better.
Communal rioting “Peaceful” Hindus continue to kill minorities in the “secular” state of India. This time the attention has swung to religious riots between Hindus and Muslims. While no-one knows for sure whether there ever was someone called “Ram” the Hindus keep up their holy war to protect a myth. The “world’s biggest democracy” along with the “peace loving” Hindu is surely the greatest hoax ever invented by mankind. It is most interesting to study their Marketing strategy and Public Relations Never have so many been sold on such an outrageously absurd idea. Perhaps Sikhs should take time to point out to the world that in India minorities are constantly persecuted. There is no religious freedom or tolerance. Hindus are always killing non-Hindus.
Dress Code. India’s latest attempt to discredit the freedom movement in Punjab is to send out a news bulletin by Associated Press stating that “Extremists impose dress code in Punjab” According to this article Sikh women have been ordered to wear Salwar Kameez and keep their heads covered with dupattas. Anyone wearing jeans or other Western clothes will be shot dead. They claim great success. A survey done in Chandigarh found no girls in colleges or other public places wearing jeans skirts or other western dress. Head Office has already been asked what happens to men wearing ties and jackets. Will the Indian government stop at nothing to discredit the Sikhs?
We would like to remind you all that Sikhism does not have a dress code Men and women may follow the dictates of fashion if they so please. There are the SK’s which must be observed. Salwar Kameez is tradition. It is not religion Tradition may be changed. Religion must be observed.
Elections In India: No doubt it would be asking too much to expect free and democratic elections. Let us hope that at least they will be peaceful. The VHP party is already asking that there be no elections in Punjab JammuKashmir and Assam because of the dangers of communal tensions and violence. Perhaps each of us here in Canada can make a point of bringing these injustices to the attention of politicians and the general public. What kind of democracy withholds the right to vote to such large segments of its population?
Simranjit Singh Mann:Mann’s memorandum to Chandra Shekhar made quite a stir Unfortunately since the government has fallen we cannot expect to hear anything further on the matter for a long long time
National Convention In Nov.1991: WSO will be holding elections this November at its National Convention It is time now for each of you to think of committing yourselves to the Sikh Cause by giving your time and effort to the organisation. Please consider the possibility of running for an executive position. We need representation from every segment of the community in every part of Canada. We would like to encourage women in particular to become actively involved. Ladies:! We need you.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 12, 1991
